Once upon a time, I had a real job. One where I rocked up to work at 8am, and didn’t leave until after 6pm. One with an hour lunch break that often involved toast at my desk, and one with sick pay and annual leave and a Christmas party.

What I have now isn’t a ‘real’ job – if that is, in fact, what a ‘real’ job entails, but a job that allows me flexibility and enjoyment, and the ability to eat toast wherever I like, wherever I like. I might not get sick pay or annual leave but I’d like to think the other benefits outweigh that.

Over the past two weeks, I’ve worked in a full time capacity for one of my clients, in an office with other people and a water cooler. And it was a blast. I actually liked going to work everyday. I looked forward to a wander down the street at lunchtime. I barely noticed as the hours ticked by, uninterrupted by the washing machine or the postman.

Someone else offered to make cups of tea. There was someone to tell when I found a funny clip on YouTube.  And someone to ask, ‘how was your weekend’?

It’s amazing how quickly, as a freelancer, you forget about little things that make going to work everyday worthwhile. An offer to make a cup of tea, or to pick up a coffee when you pop out, can be enough to make my day.  Simple office banter about life and families makes me feel connected. Having a destination to go everyday is motivational.

There is a balance between freelancing in your pyjamas and working a ‘real’ job. I can’t imagine how working mothers look after themselves, a partner, and a baby (or several!) given I couldn’t find the time to wash the dishes this past fortnight, but that feeling of having put in a full days work was quite satisfying.

As a freelancer, there are good days and bad days. On the bad days, remember why you got out of the ‘real’ job in the first place and celebrate your wins. On the good days, be awesome. The world needs more freelancers like you.